Unresolved absurdity triggers harsher moral judgments of a stranger.

Evidence

As hypothesized, participants in the unexpected unexpected Biggles condition set a higher bond for the prostitute (M = 475.11, SD = 246.82) than did participants in either the expected unexpected Biggles condition (M = 346.14, SD = 232.28) or the punch line joke condition (M = 350.6, SD = 208.15): overall ANOVA, F(2, 87) = 3.26, p < .05, η2 = .07; planned comparison, Ψ(2, –1, –1), t(87) = 2.46, p < .05, d = . (see Figure 1). Bonds set by participants in the expected unexpected Biggles and punch line joke conditions were not significantly different from each other, p > .50. — Travis Proulx, Steven J. Heine, and Kathleen D. Vohs, When Is the Unfamiliar the Uncanny?…, 56

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Believing absurdities enables ordinary decent people to commit atrocities; Forcing meaningless acts on a person produces existential disgust and despair.

Broader Connections

• Forcing meaningless acts on a person produces existential disgust and despair. #expands (0.78)
• Believing absurdities enables ordinary decent people to commit atrocities #complicates (0.72)